Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) occur when blood-forming cells in the bone marrow are damaged. NewYork-Presbyterian has been caring for hundreds of people with MDS each year for decades, making it one of the largest MDS programs in the country. People come to us from all over the nation for MDS care. Also, NewYork-Presbyterian has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the MDS Foundation. Our care features:

Compassionate Approach

Whether your MDS developed as a primary disease or it was diagnosed after you were previously treated for another cancer, our compassionate care team will give you the time and attention you need to understand your treatment choices. We’re here to help you make an informed decision about what treatment is best for you. Our ultimate goal is to find a cure for your disease.

Treatment Personalized to the Biology of MDS

We understand that the treatment of MDS is not “one-size-fits-all.” That’s why we perform molecular studies of your bone marrow to better understand your specific type of MDS, and we customize a regimen of therapy just for you. We’re known for using advanced genetic sequencing to determine the most appropriate treatment for each person’s specific type of MDS.

Comprehensive Suite of MDS Therapies

Through NewYork-Presbyterian, you may be able to receive transfusions of red blood cells and platelets on an outpatient basis — treatments that are sometimes only offered on an inpatient basis by community hospitals. We may also treat you with growth factors to raise your blood cell counts; anticancer drugs (chemotherapy); and/or stem cell transplantation. We have exceptional experience in the development of stem cell transplantation approaches that are associated with fewer complications, and with transplants from mismatched donors.

Extensive Tissue Repository for Research and Treatment

Our MDS tissue repository includes more than 50,000 samples from over 5,000 patients. We’ve followed some patients for more than 20 years. Our tissue bank and related database allow us to do molecular and genetic studies that lead to individualized treatments.

Participation in a National Consortium

Only six institutions make up the MDS Clinical Research Consortium, and NewYork-Presbyterian is one of them. This team approach helps make research possible that may lead to new classifications and treatments of MDS, helping doctors everywhere understand who gets the disease and why.

Clinical Trials

You will have access to promising new therapies through clinical trials, which may provide you with access to treatments that are difficult to find elsewhere. NewYork-Presbyterian has one of the most robust basic scientific and clinical research programs for people with MDS, featuring a strong collaboration between laboratory scientists and clinicians. Few centers see as many people with MDS as we do, which makes it possible for us to conduct clinical trials and detailed molecular studies aimed at improving MDS treatment for our patients.